[Molon Labe]

I was away on a road trip for most of last week but I'm back now. Got a few turns to catch up on:


19 February 1943

• Bombarded Funafuti island in CENTPAC with a CA, CL, and 2 DD. This island has an IJN Marine unit and an aviation unit and they seem quite exposed, they've been taking heavy casualties from B-24s and this hurt them too.
• Dutch sub KXI sustained moderate depth charge damage in the Ceram Sea when it was spotted approaching a cruiser-destroyer group.
• We laid a large minefield at Shortlands while an enemy sub was on patrol there. It hit 3 of them trying to get out.
• B-17 raids on Rabaul inflicted moderate base damage and destroyed an Emily and a Zero on the ground.
• I mixed up my raids on Babar a little bit my letting my SBDs attack the port, looking to finish off any damaged ships that might be sheltering there. Didn't catch anyone.
• One of the retreating armies in Burma is in contact with an enemy unit. The enemy is of inferior strength, but my attacks aren't succeeding due to low supply levels

20 February 1943

• The destroyer Tsuga was spotted by USS Plunger retreating from Ambon. It fired 4 torpedoes and missed... but the destroyer was so badly damaged (probably by an SBD hit a few days ago) it couldn't retaliate against the sub, so the Plunger lined up another shot and made it count this time.
• An escorted convoy with 6 tankers evaded an attack from USS Amberjack near Chichi-Jima, southeast of Japan. I think I know where the tanker route is now. He's playing connect-the-dots from Japan to the Marianas, probably from there to Palau and then running up coastlines in the Dutch East Indies. I've adjusted some sub patrol areas to test my theory. I'll probably get some subs ready for minelaying duty as well.
• Raids on Rabaul got a Betty on the ground and dealt light base damage
• Our armies retreating from Lashio suffered another attack by Japanese armor, taking another 1200 casualties and routing again.

21 February 1943

• At least one enemy sub is poking around Karachi, India. All we have for ASW here are some motor launches and light bomber patrols.
• 4 USN Liberators attacked the port at Dili, Timor, hitting a destroyer in docked there, setting off a large fire. I doubt I sank it, but probably disabled for several weeks.
• In China, it looks like the enemy is getting smarter. Instead of a frontal assault on Level 6 forts at Chusien, the enemy is sending a detachment to surround our base and cut off the supply road. I'm seriously considering retreat. I may be able to delay the detachment long enough for the excess Hong Kong area armies to get here as reinforcements, but I'm not sure.